Technical Non-Academic Standards

A pre-licensure candidate for the BSN degree must have abilities and skills in the following areas: cognitive, communication, observation, motor function and endurance, and behavioral. Reasonable accommodations may be made for some disabilities; however, pre-licensure BSN students must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner, with or without accommodations.

Cognitive: Intellectual, Conceptual and Quantitative Abilities

• Follow policies and procedures of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the cognitive requirements of the clinical sites hosting the faculty and students for learning.
• Comprehend and follow assignment directions, rubrics, and course syllabi developed by faculty.
• Demonstrate ability to achieve course and program outcomes;
• Demonstrate ability to comprehend, integrate, and apply knowledge.
• Develop and refine problem-solving skills crucial to practice as a nurse;
• Assess, analyze, and synthesize subjective and objective data to develop nursing diagnoses and comprehensive plans of care.
• Engage effective problem solving and accurately prioritize patient needs in a prompt and timely fashion.
• Utilize current evidence, clinical judgment, and patient preferences to systematically assess, analyze, implement, and evaluate healthcare interventions.
• Promote safe, culturally competent, quality care across the lifespan.

Communication

• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team through oral, written, and interpersonal means.
• Must be able to obtain information, describe and translate patient situations, and perceive both oral and non- verbal communication (including ability to understand normal speech without seeing the speaker’s face.
• Must be able to speak, comprehend, read, and write in English at a level that meets the need for accurate, clear, and effective communication. Examples include but are not limited to: giving clear oral reports, reading watches or clocks with second hands, reading graphs, reading and understanding documents printed in English, writing legibly in English, discriminating subtle differences in medical terminology.

Observation

• Must be able to observe a patient accurately. Examples include but are not limited to: listening to heart and breath sounds; visualizing the appearance of a surgical wound; detecting bleeding, unresponsiveness or other changes in patient status; detecting the presence of foul odor; and palpating an abdomen.
• Must be able to detect and respond to emergency situations, including audible alarms (e.g., monitors, call bells, fire alarms).

Motor Function and Endurance

• Must have sufficient strength and mobility to work effectively and safely with patients and carry out related nursing care. Examples include but are not limited to: lifting and positioning patients (lifting up to 50 pounds, carrying up to 25 pounds), transferring patients in and out of bed, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (AHA Basic Life Support/Healthcare Provider), preparation and administration of medications (oral, injection, intravenous, including hanging IV bags at shoulder height), reading and emptying body fluid collection devices below bed level, application of pressure to stop bleeding, clearing/opening an obstructed airway, provision of daily hygiene care.
• Must be able to complete assigned periods of clinical practice, including up to 12-hour shifts (including days, evenings, nights, weekends).
• Must be able to respond at a speed sufficient to carry out patient assignments within the allotted time.
• Must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads.

Behavioral

• Must possess mental and emotional health required for total utilization of intellectual abilities.
• Must be able to respond and function effectively during stressful situations.
• Must be capable of adapting to rapidly changing environments and respond with flexibility in uncertain situations.
• Must be able to interact appropriately with others (patients, families, members of healthcare team).